Now that Marc Maron isn't telling jokes on the air anymore, all I have to do is read the real news and listen to Deepa Fernandes do "wakeup call" on WBAI. I'm depressed as hell by the reports of Bush's speech last night. No, I didn't watch it. I just couldn't stomach it. There's something about this flagrant defense of indefensible activity that infuriates me. The flaccid responses by the congressional democrats aren't any more cheering. Too bad. At least we can count on Cindy Sheehan to tell it like it is.
Kucinich has a nice bill on the floor of the house. Good luck with that one.
If you're curious about the FISA court that people are talking about now, I recommend the episode of "This American Life" called "Secret Government." In the 15 minute discussion of the FISA court from January of 2003, TAL says that the court has never turned down a wiretap until that year, when
This past summer the court said issued an opinion that said Attorney General John Ashcroft and the Justice Department were going way too far in their zeal for wiretaps. It cited 75 cases in which the Justice Department tried to sneak around rules to protect Americans from surveillance. Blue Chevigny reports on attempts to loosen up the rules on who the government spies on here in the U.S., and on this first-ever glimpse inside this secret court.
* * * Reading about the Mayor's and Governor's comments to the transit workers union is also pretty disheartening. It hurts me when I read the Governor making such nasty remarks about his role in the negotiations.
However, maybe there will be a great spirit of solidarity in the city in the coming days. From everything I hear, it seems that a strike is unavoidable at this point, unless the MTA finally gives in on the pension demand. There's only one thing to be done when you find the morning news this depressing, and that's to go to a rally. Yes, indeed, right after I get done reviewing for finals with my students today, I'm planning on going to the TWU support rally at Pataki's office.
Here's where and when : in front of the governor's office at 633 Third Ave at 39 St., Monday, Dec. 19, at 4 p.m.
3 comments:
Do you people not realize that the spying would have taken place even WITH a court order? All that can be argued is the process and there is evidence that the process IS LEGAL if you look at decisions on FISA by courts and if you look at what Jamie Gorelick, a Clinton Justice Department staffer, said in 1994 about the SAME subject. This is her testimony before the Senate intelligence committee on July 14th of 1994. She said, Jamie Gorelick, "The Department of Justice believes, and the case law supports, that the president has inherent authority to conduct warrantless physical searches for foreign intelligence purposes, and that the President may, as has been done, delegate this authority to the Attorney General. It is important to understand, that the rules and methodology for criminal searches are inconsistent with the collection of foreign intelligence and would unduly frustrate the president in carrying out his foreign intelligence responsibilities."
This case involved foreign intelligence gathering within US borders. All we have is yet another attempt by liberals to politicize something they actually have said they support in the past simply because of their hatred of Bush.
The main point, though, is that this spying still would have occurred EVEN with a judge's signature since the NSA has never had a warrant rejected. So why are you all so upset?
Who you callin' a liberal, honey? I'm criticizing Bush and his minions, because in case you didn't notice, it's 2005 right now, not 1994.
You shoulda known me in the 1990s. I was protesting Clinton non-stop, and in particular I was protesting his 1995 anti-terrorism and death penalty bill. You ought to read some blog entries in which I address so-called conservatives who assume that the only possible alternative to their own idiotic defense of the president is a partisan one. Some of us say a "pox" on both your houses.
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